BEING hot on shoeing cycles is the main consideration for a rider trying to optimise their horse’s performance.
“The average happy hacker can go between six and eight weeks between sets, but with competition horses you may need to stick to a four- to five-week cycle,” says farrier Daniel Bennett. “This will increase marginal gains and protect from repetitive strain injuries. It’s a bit like comparing a Formula One car and a Ford Fiesta; the former is going to be serviced a lot more regularly. Plus, as soon as you balance the foot and nail a shoe on, the hoof starts growing again. They don’t grow level, so maintaining a shorter shoeing cycle helps you keep truer to the optimum balance.”
Farrier Aletia Reilingh agrees: “I like to have sport horses on a shorter cycle, making sure the hooves are kept balanced and the toe is not getting too long to avoid stress on the horse’s limbs,” she says. “Using X-rays to evaluate the feet for a shoeing plan is also hugely beneficial.”
Racehorses are shod every three to four weeks, as Daniel says: “The lightweight shoes wear out a lot more quickly.”
Denne historien er fra July 01, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
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Denne historien er fra July 01, 2021-utgaven av Horse & Hound.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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'Sorry, but I wasn't feeling it'
Fresh from the opening meet, Tessa Waugh hasn't quite yet been bitten by the hunting bug. Without the crisp autumnal air and cheek-pinching cold she hoped for, it's a sluggish start
New pair pull off a win
A former European Championships pony is on form with his new rider, while elsewhere former showjumpers and eventers take ribbons
Lording it over the rest
Horses who have returned from injury, a second generation homebred and a long format specialist score on the final weekend of the British season
Smith hits flying form
A \"her way or no way\" mare helps Zoe Smith to an impressive ribbon haul and a rider beats his own boss to the top spot
Jankorado hits the jackpot
Paul Sims is triumphant despite his interrupted jump-off preparation and a borrowed horse comes up trumps
Peanut
From \"dangerous, scary\" to hedge-hopping brilliance, hunting has been the making of this unstable but very lovable equine character
She's a corker
Communication, says long-standing and highly respected Belvoir master Lady Sarah McCorquodale, is the key to all, as Catherine Austen discovers
Access all areas Cavalier Centre
The Cavalier Centre is a fully accessible, state-of-the-art equestrian centre designed to improve lives through horse-based activities. Ellie May Forrester pays a visit
'Use it or lose it'
Not everyone wants to reach for the pipe and slippers at a certain age. Becky Murray speaks to some veteran horse-and-rider combos for their secrets of human and equine longevity
A new way forward
Worm control in horses is vital, but established methods will not remain effective for much longer. Tim Mair FRCVS explains why and how we need to change
